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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Assessing Cost Efficiency And Economies Of Scale In The European Banking System, A Bayesian Stochastic Frontier Approach, Ana Maria Ichim Jan 2012

Assessing Cost Efficiency And Economies Of Scale In The European Banking System, A Bayesian Stochastic Frontier Approach, Ana Maria Ichim

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Cost e_x000E_fficiency of banks is a key indicator that provides valuable insight to researchers and policymakers about the functioning of the _x000C_financial intermediation process, as well as, the overall performance of the entire financial system. This thesis focuses on the cost effi_x000E_ciency of the European banking market for which we identify fourteen nation-specific frontiers and also perform cross country comparisons under a common frontier assumption. Our interest in the subject is twofold. At the nation level, cost e_x000E_fficiency influences the relative competitiveness of banks, setting the profile of the national banking industry with direct implications on economic growth. At the …


Early Voting In The 2004 Presidential Election, James Michael Siira Jan 2012

Early Voting In The 2004 Presidential Election, James Michael Siira

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The addition of early voting laws has led to the many changes in the US political system. In this dissertation I examine early voting early voting in a number of different contexts. First, how early voting fits in with the larger issue of voter turnout in the U.S. Second, why some states have early voting policies and other states choose to not have those policies. Third, how state-level political parties view the option to cast an early vote. Fourth, the differences between early voters, election day voters, and non-voters. Fifth, what are the determents of casting an early ballot. Sixth, …


Splitting A Pair: Playing The Gender Card And The Race Card In American Politics, Amy Ladley Jan 2012

Splitting A Pair: Playing The Gender Card And The Race Card In American Politics, Amy Ladley

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

More than any election before, the 2008 Presidential race revealed a persistent discussion of “race cards” and “gender cards.” In spite of the reported consensus that these alleged cards were everywhere, we know relatively little about those situations where the “card” label was applied, and even less about how this label influenced voters. In fact, among key electoral sources – political elites who use identity as a campaign tool, the journalists who cover and narrate elections, and researchers who make sense of elections-based behavior – there is no consensus regarding what a card is, how or when they are played, …


En(Gendering) Policy: Gender Policies In Former Soviet Republics, Natasha Lachelle Bingham Jan 2012

En(Gendering) Policy: Gender Policies In Former Soviet Republics, Natasha Lachelle Bingham

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation examines gender policies in former Soviet republics. Gender policies are depicted as traditional policies (including such policies as child support, spousal support, and inheritance rights), violence against women policies (domestic violence, marital rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment), and human trafficking policies. It builds upon previous works with a multi-methodological approach (content analysis, logistical regression, and qualitative survey analysis). The focus here is on the factors that influence adoption of formal policies in former Soviet republics from 1993-2008. I explore variance across both countries and policy areas, assessing whether (and why) certain post-Soviet states are more likely to …


Mechanisms Of Urban Influence On Precipitation In The Southeastern United States: Precipitation Enhancement, Storm Bifurcation, And Synoptic Characteristics, Anna Marie Trevino Jan 2012

Mechanisms Of Urban Influence On Precipitation In The Southeastern United States: Precipitation Enhancement, Storm Bifurcation, And Synoptic Characteristics, Anna Marie Trevino

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The continual growth of urban areas increasingly affects the environment on various spatial scales. Land cover changes, combined with decreasing vegetative cover and addition of atmospheric aerosols, potentially lead to growing urban heat islands that alter the local moisture fluxes directly or indirectly, which in turn play a role in precipitation initiation and development. Some studies suggest that a region of enhanced rainfall exists downwind of the main urban area and that frontal systems decelerate as they reach areas of high urban development. Six urban areas within the southeastern United States were examined for possible urban precipitation enhancement: Atlanta, Birmingham, …


Measurement Of Pain, Pain Disability, And Pain Beliefs Of Morbidly Obese Adults, Brooke Louise Barbera Jan 2012

Measurement Of Pain, Pain Disability, And Pain Beliefs Of Morbidly Obese Adults, Brooke Louise Barbera

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Both obesity and pain are pervasive public health problems, contributing to significant disability in the United States and worldwide. Studies have demonstrated a positive association between obesity and pain, with increasing BMI related to increasing levels of pain intensity; however, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood. The present study assessed the presence of pain, pain-related disability, and pain beliefs in a morbidly obese (BMI > 40 kg/m2) sample participating in a medically-supervised, nonsurgical weight loss intervention. After controlling for demographic variables and depression, pain was reported in 36.7% of the sample (N = 390). Results indicated that greater …


Performance, Preference, Promotion: Political Mobility Of Chinese Regional Leaders, Liang Qiao Jan 2012

Performance, Preference, Promotion: Political Mobility Of Chinese Regional Leaders, Liang Qiao

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

As a study exclusively on the political elites, the dissertation studies the Chinese regional leaders and their political career mobility controlled by the central government from 1949 to 2010. The Chinese Communist Party controls its regional leaders by controlling their career movement (political mobility). This study explains why some regional leaders were promoted while some others were demoted or dismissed while most of them shared similar personal background and career experience. By providing empirical evidence with quantitative analysis, this study shows that in post-Deng Chinese politics (1997-2010) there are certain patterns and manipulated by the CCP center in demoting and …


Climate Change Displacement And Global Governance: A Case Study Of Three Intergovernmental Organizations And The Conflict Between The Member States And Bureaucracy, Andrea C. S. Berringer Jan 2012

Climate Change Displacement And Global Governance: A Case Study Of Three Intergovernmental Organizations And The Conflict Between The Member States And Bureaucracy, Andrea C. S. Berringer

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Climate change is a topic most often broached by environmental scientists and activists and its effects are discussed in terms of animal populations and atmospheric events. However, its direct effect on human life is yet to garner such attention. A changing climate will affect how people are able to use their environment, if at all. Sea level rise and desertification will force a shift in human habitation. How the world seeks to deal with this shift is yet to be seen. The global governance of climate change-induced displacement is currently at the stage of ad hoc development. Legal and conceptual …


Comparing Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorders Using The Current Dsm-Iv-Tr Diagnostic Criteria And The Proposed Dsm-V Diagnostic Criteria, Julie A. Worley Jan 2012

Comparing Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorders Using The Current Dsm-Iv-Tr Diagnostic Criteria And The Proposed Dsm-V Diagnostic Criteria, Julie A. Worley

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Children diagnosed with Autistic Disorder (AD), Asperger’s Disorder (AS), and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) share overlapping diagnostic criteria. As a result, there has been an enduring debate regarding the appropriateness of the current categorical classification system used to diagnose this group of disorders, commonly referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Ongoing research examining the boundaries of the disorders comprising the spectrum have yielded inconsistent findings in symptom differences; therefore, the American Psychiatric Association has proposed revisions for the upcoming version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (i.e., DSM-5). Revisions include dropping all subcategories …


Gis-Based Urban Land Use Characterization And Population Modeling With Subpixel Information Measured From Remote Sensing Data, Quan Tang Jan 2012

Gis-Based Urban Land Use Characterization And Population Modeling With Subpixel Information Measured From Remote Sensing Data, Quan Tang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation provides deeper understanding on the application of Vegetation-Impervious Surface-Soil (V-I-S) model in the urban land use characterization and population modeling, focusing on New Orleans area. Previous research on the V-I-S model used in urban land use classification emphasized on the accuracy improvement while ignoring the discussion of the stability of classifiers. I developed an evaluation framework by using randomization techniques and decision tree method to assess and compare the performance of classifiers and input features. The proposed evaluation framework is applied to demonstrate the superiority of V-I-S fractions and LST for urban land use classification. It could also …


Understanding Public Perceptions Of Global Warming, Wanyun Shao Jan 2012

Understanding Public Perceptions Of Global Warming, Wanyun Shao

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation, I investigate the determinants on Americans’ perceptions of global warming and individuals’ environmentally significant behaviors to reduce global warming. Specially, I examine how contextual variables, primarily represented by local weather and climate, attitudinal variables, and socio-demographic characteristics affect public opinion towards global warming, personal voluntary actions and willingness to address global warming. The research of this dissertation reveals some important findings. First, local weather and climate—represented by long-term temperature trends—is found to have significant effects on public perceptions of global warming and private-sector environmentally significant behaviors. In particular, the summer temperature trend over the past 10 years …


How Core Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder Predict Engagement In Specific Topographies Of Challenging Behavior, Sara Mahan Jan 2012

How Core Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder Predict Engagement In Specific Topographies Of Challenging Behavior, Sara Mahan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Challenging behavior, such as aggression, destructive behavior, and self-injurious behavior (SIB), are common among people of all ages with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Numerous researchers have found that greater severity of ASD or a diagnosis of ASD is significantly correlated with greater levels of challenging behavior. However, there is dearth of information on how core symptoms of ASD (i.e., socialization deficits, communication deficits, stereotypies) predict the engagement of specific topographies of challenging behavior above and beyond other variables, such as developmental functioning. The purpose of this study is to extend the current literature base through examining how core symptoms of …


Children's Representations Of Parenting Behaviors, Basic Negative Emotions, And Negative Self-Conscious Emotions In The Narrative Story Stem Technique, Loredana Apavaloaie Jan 2012

Children's Representations Of Parenting Behaviors, Basic Negative Emotions, And Negative Self-Conscious Emotions In The Narrative Story Stem Technique, Loredana Apavaloaie

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The current study examined middle childhood aged Romanian children’s representations of parenting behaviors, basic negative emotions, and negative self-conscious emotions in the Narrative Story Stem Technique (NSST; Bretherton, Ridgeway, & Cassidy, 1990). More specifically, the research objectives of the study were a) to identify the frequency of the representations that were reflected in children’s narratives, b) to identify the specific stories that elicited the greatest number of representations, c) to identify possible relationships among children’s representations, their age, and amount of time that parents spend with their children, d) to identify gender differences in representations, and e) to evaluate the …


Constructing Wilderness: The Nexus Of Preservation And Ocean-Space In The United States, Ryan Orgera Jan 2012

Constructing Wilderness: The Nexus Of Preservation And Ocean-Space In The United States, Ryan Orgera

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The ocean has long played a minor role in human geography; imagining it as natural space rather than an extractive space even less significant. This dissertation explores the most revered kind of American nature preservation: wilderness. Despite the millions of acres set aside as wilderness in the United States, no such designation exists for ocean-space as a discrete entity. Through the analysis of congressional hearings, bills, resolutions, public laws, and maps, this dissertation uncovers the complex constructs of the production of legal wilderness. Furthermore, it uncovers a novel vein of inquiry, that of the ocean as a preserved natural space. …


A Discourse On Geospatial Technology Applications In Predictive Analytics And Evidence-Based Decision Support For Disaster Research And Management, Steven Matthew Ward Jan 2012

A Discourse On Geospatial Technology Applications In Predictive Analytics And Evidence-Based Decision Support For Disaster Research And Management, Steven Matthew Ward

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Continued population growth and development in vulnerable locations across the world are creating a new geography of hazards and disasters. Increasing storm frequencies coupled with unrelenting efforts to control flooding through structural means will undoubtedly intensify the intersection between flood hazards and humans. Accordingly, the baseline capacity of places to prepare for and rebound from disaster events adequately is negatively impacted. Hurricane Katrina brought this reality to the forefront of disaster science and management in 2005. Concurrent with the increased awareness of evolving hazardscapes has been the identification of deficiencies in how components of disasters are studied and managed. The …


Playing The Christ Card: Courting Christians Through Religious Appeals In Political Campaigns, Matthew Lee Thornton Jan 2012

Playing The Christ Card: Courting Christians Through Religious Appeals In Political Campaigns, Matthew Lee Thornton

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In spite of a corpus of work over the last three decades acknowledging the centrality of religion in politics, (see e.g. Hunter, 1991; Layman, 2001; Putnam & Campbell, 2010; Wuthnow, 1988), there remains a scarcity of research examining the consequences of religious communication in political campaigns. The current study fills this void through an empirical exploration of the effects of religious campaign appeals on prospective voters. Specifically, this interdisciplinary investigation develops a theoretical framework and subsequent expectations as to how religious appeals are likely to activate individual religiosity thereby influencing the formation of political attitudes. Hypothesized expectations are then tested …


Hierarchical Linear Modeling Versus Visual Analysis Of Single Subject Design Data, Elizabeth Godbold Nelson Jan 2012

Hierarchical Linear Modeling Versus Visual Analysis Of Single Subject Design Data, Elizabeth Godbold Nelson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Visual analysis is the “gold standard” for single-subject design data because of a presumed low Type I error rate and consistency across raters. However, research has found it less accurate and reliable than typically assumed. Many statistics have been proposed as aids for visual analysis, but most suffer from limitations either due to methods of investigation or problems inherent to the statistics themselves. Several researchers have proposed the use of Hierarchical Linear Modeling to analyze single-subject data because it can withstand violations of assumptions often present in single-subject data that other statistics cannot. In addition, HLM is similar to the …


Examination Of The Reliability And Validity Of A New Observation Measure For Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Autism Spectrum Disorder Observation For Children, Daniene Neal Jan 2012

Examination Of The Reliability And Validity Of A New Observation Measure For Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Autism Spectrum Disorder Observation For Children, Daniene Neal

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

With increasing attention being drawn to autism spectrum disorders (ASD), specifically with regard to early and accurate diagnosis and treatment, researchers and clinicians alike have placed emphasis on finding assessment tools that can aid in this goal. The purpose of this study is to examine the psychometric properties of a new observation measure for ASD, the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Observation for Children (ASD-OC). The ASD-OC was found to have good to excellent interrater reliability, and excellent internal consistency (ƒÑ = .96). As a result of these initial reliability analyses, nine items were removed from the scale. The resulting 45 item ASD-OC …


The Responsibility Of Clothing Slaves In The United States As Described In Slave Petitions, 1775 To 1867, Ryan Jerel Aldridge Jan 2012

The Responsibility Of Clothing Slaves In The United States As Described In Slave Petitions, 1775 To 1867, Ryan Jerel Aldridge

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The content analysis of eighteenth and nineteenth century slave petitions identified slave dress terms and descriptors by type and frequency and a descriptive analysis of slave dress petitions revealed the following themes: the expense and burden attributed to clothing slaves, slave dress neglect, hiring contracts that included slave dress, the use of slave dress as a reflection of the slaveholders character, compensation for slave dress provided by an individual other than the slaveholder, the quality of slave dress, the distribution of slave dress, and slave dress terminology descriptors. The most frequent specific provision request for slave dress items consisted of …


An Investigation Into The Moderating Role Of Fear Appeals On The Relationship Between Regulatory Fit And Persuasion, Nam Young Kim Jan 2012

An Investigation Into The Moderating Role Of Fear Appeals On The Relationship Between Regulatory Fit And Persuasion, Nam Young Kim

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

As one of the ways to persuade young people effectively, several scholars have indicated that using a tailored message that is consistent with individuals’ concerns and interests can influence their attitude and behavioral changes. Among diverse tactics to construct tailored health-messages, this research especially paid attention to individuals’ motivational goals (i.e., regulatory focus) that make them more inclined to a certain outcome. While promotion-oriented individuals primarily focus on how to achieve a desired ending, prevention-oriented individuals mainly focus on avoiding undesirable outcomes (Higgins, 1997; Higgins et al., 2001). Although numerous studies support the positive effects of the congruency between regulatory …


Making News In 140 Characters: How The New Media Environment Is Changing Our Examination Of Audiences, Journalists, And Content, Ashley Elizabeth Kirzinger Jan 2012

Making News In 140 Characters: How The New Media Environment Is Changing Our Examination Of Audiences, Journalists, And Content, Ashley Elizabeth Kirzinger

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This project answers the following questions: What does political reporting on social media look like? How is political journalists’ use of social media changing their relationships with sources and fellow political journalists? Triangulating qualitative and quantitative research methods (content analysis, social network analysis, and in-depth interviews) in an examination of Twitter, a social media platform popular among journalists, this project provides insight into how changes in media routines are affecting news content.


Intra-Individual Variability In Adult Adhd: An Exploration Of The Viability Of Distinct Purely Inattentive Condition, Daniel Proto Jan 2012

Intra-Individual Variability In Adult Adhd: An Exploration Of The Viability Of Distinct Purely Inattentive Condition, Daniel Proto

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Researchers have suggested that intraindividual variability (IIV), or variation in cognitive testing performance within an individual across a measure or group of measures, may be an endophenotypic marker of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, not all studies have consistently demonstrated significant differences in IIV between individuals with and without ADHD. One potential explanation for this ambiguity is experimental group heterogeneity owing to Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT). Individuals with SCT exhibit behavioral characteristics dissimilar from individuals with ADHD; rather than being impulsive, hyperactive, and aggressive, they tend to be shy, day-dreamy, and cognitively slow. Researchers have hypothesized that the presence of SCT …


Amd&Art: Performativity And Participation In Ecological Remediation, Travis Paine Brisini Jan 2012

Amd&Art: Performativity And Participation In Ecological Remediation, Travis Paine Brisini

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this study, I examine and theorize AMD&ART, an artwork devoted to treating polluted water in Vintondale, PA. AMD&ART is much more than simply a water treatment facility, however. Each chapter of this document examines AMD&ART through the lens of a different body of scholarly literature: the literature associated with land art, Systems Theory, Network Theory, Companion Specieshood and others. The theoretical focus of this paper is the emergent importance of the concept of performativity—“that reiterative power of discourse to produce the phenomena that it regulates and constrains” (Butler, Bodies 2)—in the deconstruction of the binary division of “nature” and …


Out Of Site But Not Out Of Mind: Submerged Prehistoric Landscapes On The Northwestern Gulf Of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf, Amanda M. Evans Jan 2012

Out Of Site But Not Out Of Mind: Submerged Prehistoric Landscapes On The Northwestern Gulf Of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf, Amanda M. Evans

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Archaeological sites are more important than simply the artifacts they contain. Locations of human occupation and activity form a pattern that can provide information about perceptions of the landscape, decisions about resources, or preferences. Explaining this “perceived” environment is one of archaeology’s goals in explaining past human behavior. In order to address these goals, archaeologists must first identify elements of the “real” landscape, including the geographical environment, its resources, and evidence of human modification. Only after these real elements have been identified can the perceived environment be explored. On the outer continental shelf of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, formerly …


Essays On Social Networks, Emre Unlu Jan 2012

Essays On Social Networks, Emre Unlu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The first chapter provides a way of evaluating a player's contribution to their team and relates their effort to their market values. We extend the work of Ballester et al. (2006) by incorporating a network outcome component in the players' payoff functions. As an illustration of the theory, we create a unique data set from the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament. To capture the interaction between players, we create the passing network of each team. This all allows us to identify the key player and key groups of players for both teams in each game. We then use our measure to …


The Lost City: Examining The Relationship Between Science, Philosophy And The Atlantis Myth, Kimberly Hurd Jan 2012

The Lost City: Examining The Relationship Between Science, Philosophy And The Atlantis Myth, Kimberly Hurd

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Francis Bacon, long considered a minor figure in the founding of modern political thought, is now recognized as one of its foremost thinkers. Bacon not only championed a new type and method of scientific inquiry, he also developed a plan for how modern society could be re-ordered to accommodate and promote scientific progress. Bacon’s scientific writings cannot be wholly understood apart from his political writings, and many of his works combine the two topics so subtly that it is difficult to even place them in a definitive category. My project expands on the previous literature with a detailed analysis of …


Communicating While Stimulated: The Effects Of Sensory-Processing Sensitivity On Behavior And Relationships, Christopher Charles Gearhart Jan 2012

Communicating While Stimulated: The Effects Of Sensory-Processing Sensitivity On Behavior And Relationships, Christopher Charles Gearhart

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In light of claims made by Aron (1996, 2000; Aron & Aron, 1997), this dissertation tested the influence of sensory-processing sensitivity on communication via two sets of research questions. First, are highly sensitive persons more easily aroused by stimulation, and if so does this necessarily cause a decrease in affect recognition? Results of an experimental study (N = 342) indicate that highly sensitive persons (HSPs) were more distracted by audio stimulation, causing more errors in accuracy judgments on non-verbal decoding tests, most noticeably for facial expression detection. The implication is that, when aroused by stimulation in their environment, HSPs may …


Immigration, The Welfare State And Income Inequality In Sixteen Oecd Countries, 1970-2007, Ping Xu Jan 2012

Immigration, The Welfare State And Income Inequality In Sixteen Oecd Countries, 1970-2007, Ping Xu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Many western democracies witnessed roaring levels of immigration and inequality in the past four decades. In spite of speculations that immigration is a contributing factor of the rising income inequality, existing studies do not have a consistent finding relating to this relationship. This dissertation utilizes new data sources to explore the relationship between immigration and inequality.My initial exploration points to the fact that immigration significantly leads to increases in post-redistribution income inequality in 16 OECD countries, but does not have any effect on pre-redistribution income inequality. I contend that it is because immigrants as non-citizens are often times not entitled …


The Role Of Atypical Semantic Activation In Schizotypy: Implications For Odd Speech And Creativity, Kyle S. Minor Jan 2012

The Role Of Atypical Semantic Activation In Schizotypy: Implications For Odd Speech And Creativity, Kyle S. Minor

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Individuals with schizophrenia tend to demonstrate patterns of atypical semantic activation, which are characterized by increased activation of weakly associated words within the semantic network. Although atypical semantic activation is associated with formal thought disorder, tangential speech, and poor long-term functioning in schizophrenia, very little is known about this variable in individuals with schizotypy, or the 10% of the population who demonstrate personality traits presumed to reflect genetic liability to schizophrenia. In this project, we employed highly sensitive laboratory procedures to test whether individuals with schizotypy (n = 45) display increased atypical semantic activation compared to a non-schizotypy group (n …


An Investigation Into Technology And Motivational Influences On Creativity And Product Output In Apparel Design Students, Charles Freeman Jan 2012

An Investigation Into Technology And Motivational Influences On Creativity And Product Output In Apparel Design Students, Charles Freeman

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the application of a social psychological theoretical framework to the study of creativity in apparel design, with a focus on technological engagement and motivational factors. A sample of 32 apparel design students from two major southeastern universities were selected to complete a self-report instruments regarding motivation and technological engagement. Students completed the Abbreviated Torrance Test for Adults (ATTA) as well as a design brief. Design illustrations were evaluated by a panel of expert judges in the field of apparel design using a consensual assessment technique (CAT). Results indicate levels of technology and …